Pump and motor assembly

ABSTRACT

A fluid pumping system that includes a motor and a pump, wherein an output shaft of the motor is directly coupled to an input shaft of the pump. This coupling between the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the pump may be the primary mechanism for coupling the motor to the pump. Such a configuration may be called a “floating pump mount”, because the pump is primarily coupled to the motor via the shaft connection. As a result of this connection, the output shaft of the motor may be naturally “aligned” with the input shaft of the pump. To help prevent the pump from freely rotating with the output shaft of the motor during operation, a rotational stop mechanism may be provided. The rotational stop mechanism may include at least one resilient member for absorbing or substantially absorbing at least some of any relative movement between the pump and the motor.

FIELD

The present invention generally relates to the field of pumps, and moreparticularly, to pumps that are driven by a motor such as an internalcombustion engine, a hydraulic motor or an electric motor.

BACKGROUND

Fluid pumping systems are currently used in a wide variety ofapplications. In some cases, the fluid pumping systems include a pumphead that is driven by a rotary motor, such as an internal combustionengine, a hydraulic motor or an electric motor. When driven by themotor, the pump head often produces a pressurized fluid stream that canbe used in any number of applications. One illustrative application isthat of a high pressure washing device. High pressure washing devicestypically deliver a fluid such as water under relatively high pressureto a surface to be cleaned, stripped or prepared for other treatment.Such pressure washers are produced in a variety of designs and can beused to perform numerous functions in industrial, commercial and homeapplications.

Fluid pumping systems can be either stationary or portable. Stationaryfluid pumping systems are generally used in industrial or commercialapplications such as in car washes, manufacturing facilities, or thelike. Portable fluid pumping systems may include a motor/pump unit thatcan be carried or wheeled from place to place.

In some cases, fluid pumping systems use a piston pump having one ormore reciprocating pistons for delivering liquid under pressure to thepump outlet. Such piston pumps often have two or more pistons to providea generally more continuous pressure, higher flow rate, and greaterefficiency. Multiple piston pumps often use articulated pistons, or mayuse a swash plate and linear pistons for pumping the liquid. Other pumpdesigns may also exist.

In many cases, power from the motor is transferred to the rotating inputshaft of the pump via one or more belts, gears, or the like. However,the use of belts, gears or the like can consume significant energy,thereby reducing the power that is actually delivered and available tothe pump. Thus, to achieve a desired pumping capacity, the motor mayhave to be driven harder, or a larger motor may have to be provided.This can increase the cost of operating the fluid pumping system. Inaddition, the use of belts, gears or the like can require significantmaintenance, which may also increase the cost of operating the fluidpumping system.

One approach to overcome some of these limitations is to drive therotating input shaft of the pump directly from the rotating drive shaftof the motor. In some cases, both the motor and the pump are attached toa common substrate with the rotating drive shaft of the motor connecteddirectly to the rotating input shaft of the pump. However, in suchsystems, the mechanical alignment of the shafts, and the ease with whichsuch alignment may be obtained, are of particular concern. The drivingand driven shafts may be said to be perfectly aligned when their axes ofrotation are coincident with one another at all times. Such perfectalignment would be ideal, but it is often difficult to achieve. Inaddition, such shaft misalignments can be static and/or transient. As apractical matter, it is not very economical to hold machining tolerancesso closely that shaft misalignments are not of a concern. Shaftmisalignment can increase vibration, consume energy, degrade motorand/or pump performance, increase operating noise, accelerate wear andtear as well as have other detrimental effects.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a fluid pumping system or assembly thatincludes a motor and a pump. An output shaft of the motor is directlycoupled to an input shaft of the pump. In one illustrative embodiment,the output shaft of the motor is directly coupled to the input shaft ofthe pump in such a way that prevents the pump and the motor from movingaway from each other during operation, and in some cases, is the primarymechanism for coupling the pump to the motor. Such a configuration maybe called a “floating pump mount”, because the pump is primarily coupledto the motor via the shaft connection. As a result of this connection,the output shaft of the motor may be naturally “aligned” with the inputshaft of the pump. There may be some relative movement between the pumpand motor housings caused by shaft irregularities, but this relativelymovement does not produce the same detrimental effects as a shaftmisalignment.

To help prevent the pump from freely rotating with the output shaft ofthe motor during operation, a rotational stop mechanism may be provided.In addition to preventing the pump from freely rotating with the outputshaft of the motor, the rotational stop mechanism may provide at leastone resilient member for absorbing or substantially absorbing at leastsome of the relative movement between the pump and the motor. In someillustrative embodiments, the rotational stop mechanism may include abracket that is coupled between the pump and the motor housings. The atleast one resilient member may be situated between the bracket and themotor and/or the bracket and the pump. In some embodiments, the bracketmay be adapted to not significantly prevent the pump and motor frommoving away from each other during operation. Instead, and as notedabove, the coupling between the pump input shaft and the motor outputshaft may provide the primary mechanism for preventing the pump andmotor from moving away from each other during operation. Such aconfiguration may help keep the output shaft of the motor naturally“aligned” with the input shaft of the pump, while allowing some movementbetween the motor and pump housings while at the same time preventingthe pump from freely rotating with the output shaft of the motor duringoperation.

To help reduce the downward torque on the drive shaft of the motorcaused by the weight of the pump, it may be beneficial to reduce thedistance that the pump is spaced from the motor. In some embodiments,the motor may have a rotating output shaft with an output shaft bearing,and the pump may have a rotating input shaft with an input shaftbearing. As noted above, the input shaft of the pump may be directlycoupled to the output shaft of the motor so that the input shaft of thepump and the output shaft of the motor are fixed relatively to oneanother to prevent the pump and the motor from moving away from eachother during operation. To reduce the downward torque on the motor driveshaft, the spacing between the output shaft bearing of the motor and theinput shaft bearing of the pump may be, for example, less than 2.0inches, less than 1.0 inches, or less than 0.5 inches.

To help set or release the coupling, some embodiments may include a setscrew in the space between the bearings. The set screw may be used toloosen and/or tighten the coupling between the input shaft of the pumpand the output shaft of the motor. For example, to remove the pump fromthe motor, the set screw may be loosened to loosen the coupling betweenthe output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the pump. The pumpmay then be pulled away from the motor until the input shaft of the pumpis disengaged from the output shaft of the motor. When a bracket isprovided, the pump may be pulled sufficiently far away from the motor sothat the bracket also no longer provides any anti-rotational couplingbetween the pump and the motor. In some cases, a safety pin may beprovided, which once removed, may allow the pump to be pulledsufficiently far away so that the bracket no longer provides anycoupling between the pump and the motor.

The above summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodimentor every implementation of the present invention. The Figures and thedetailed description which follow more particularly exemplifyillustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pump assembly in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the illustrative pump assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an illustrative rotational stop mechanism thatmay be used to help prevent the pump from freely rotating with theoutput shaft of the motor during operation;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the illustrative rotational stop mechanism ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 includes a side view and front view of an illustrative resilientmember that may be used to absorb or substantially absorb at least someof the relative movement between the pump and the motor;

FIG. 6 is an assembly view of an illustrative piston pump that issuitable for use with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an illustrativeconnection between the motor output shaft and pump input shaft of FIG.1;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of another illustrativeconnection between the motor output shaft and pump input shaft of FIG.1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a pump assembly in accordance withanother illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a pump assembly in accordance withyet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic partial-cut away side view of a pump assembly inaccordance with yet another illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 12 is an assembly view of an illustrative piston pump that includesan input shaft that has a hollow shaft end and a solid shaft endextending out of the pump housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description should be read with reference to thedrawings. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depictillustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pump assembly in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is aside view of the illustrative pump assembly of FIG. 1. The illustrativepump assembly is generally shown at 10, and includes a motor 12 and apump 14. The motor 12 may be any type of motor that includes a rotatingoutput shaft 20 including, for example, an internal combustion engine, ahydraulic motor or an electric motor. The pump 14 may be any type ofpump that includes a rotating input shaft 22. The illustrative pump 14has a pump inlet 16 and a pump output 18.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the output shaft 20 of the motor 12 is directlycoupled to the input shaft 22 of the pump 14. In some illustrativeembodiments, the input shaft 22 of the pump 14 may have a hollow shaftend portion that has an output shaft receiving lumen for receiving theoutput shaft 20 of the motor 12. The input shaft 22 of the pump 14 mayalso have a key slot (not shown) that extends along at least part of theoutput shaft receiving lumen, and the output shaft 20 of the motor 12may have a mating key member (not shown). Alternatively, or in addition,the input shaft 22 of the pump 14 may have a key member (not shown)along at least part of the output shaft receiving lumen, and the outputshaft 20 of the motor 12 may have a mating key slot.

To help set or release the coupling between the input shaft 22 of thepump 14 and the output shaft 20 of the motor 12, and in someembodiments, a set screw 24 may extend through a side wall of the inputshaft 22 and into the output shaft receiving lumen. The set screw 24 mayengage the output shaft 20 of the motor 12, and when tightened, maysecure the connection so that pump 14 is prevented from moving away fromthe motor 12, and visa-versa, during operation. Such a configuration maybe called a “floating pump mount”, because the pump 14 is primarilycoupled to the motor 12 via the shaft connection. As a result of thisconnection, the output shaft 20 of the motor 12 may be naturally“aligned” with the input shaft 22 of the pump 14. There may be somerelative movement between the pump 14 and motor 12 housings caused byshaft irregularities, but this relatively movement does not produce thesame detrimental effects as a shaft misalignment.

To help prevent the pump 14 from freely rotating with the output shaft20 of the motor 12 during operation, a rotational stop mechanism may beprovided. One illustrative rotational stop mechanism is generally shownat 28, and includes a bracket 30 that is coupled between the pump 14 andthe motor 12 housings. The bracket 30 is shown bolted or otherwisesecured to the housing of the pump 14, such as by bolt 32. The motor 12includes a number of shafts or studs 34 a-34 b extending out from themotor face 38, and the bracket 30 includes a number of correspondingholes 36 (see FIG. 3) for receiving the studs 34 a-34 b. The holes 36may be sized sufficiently large so that a grommet 38 or other resilientmember may be placed in the hole and between the studs 34 a-34 b and thebracket 30. Thus, in addition to preventing the pump 14 from freelyrotating with the output shaft 20 of the motor 12, the bracket 30 andaccompanying holes and grommets 38, may absorb or substantially absorbat least some of the relative movement between the pump 14 and the motor12. In this illustrative embodiment, the bracket 30 and grommets 38merely slide over the studs 34 a-34 b, and therefore do notsignificantly prevent the pump 14 and motor 12 from moving away fromeach other during operation. Instead, and as noted above, the connectionbetween the pump input shaft 22 and the motor output shaft 20 mayprovide the primary mechanism for preventing the pump 14 and motor 12from moving away from each other during operation. It is believed thatsuch a configuration may help keep the output shaft 20 of the motor 12naturally “aligned” with the input shaft 22 of the pump 14, whileallowing some movement between the motor 12 and pump 14 housings whileat the same time preventing the pump 14 from freely rotating with theoutput shaft 20 of the motor during operation.

In some cases, the pump 14 may present a lateral torque on the bracket30 because more of the weight of the pump may be laterally offset to oneside relative to the input shaft 22 of the pump 14. Because the grommets38 may tend to deform slightly under such a lateral torque, even whenthe pump 14 is not operating, the holes 36 in the bracket 30 may bepositioned to compensate for this grommet deformity so that the pump islevel at rest. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the holes36 are offset about 1.2 degrees in a clockwise direction about the axisof the input shaft 22 of the pump 14 to compensate for the expecteddeformity in the grommets 38.

In some cases, one or more of the studs 34 a-34 b may include a hole orslot extending in a transverse direction across the stud 34 a-34 b. Asafety pin 40 or other removable mechanical stop may extend through thehole or along the slot. This may help prevent the pump 14 from flyingaway from the motor 12 in the event that the input shaft 22 of the pump,the output shaft 20 of the motor 12 or the shaft connection should breakor otherwise come loose during operation.

As detailed above, the set screw 24 may be used to loosen and/or tightenthe coupling between the input shaft 22 of the pump 14 and the outputshaft 20 of the motor 12. Thus, and in some illustrative embodiments,the pump 14 may be easily removed from the motor 12 by simply looseningthe set screw 24, which loosens the coupling between the output shaft 20of the motor 12 and the input shaft 22 of the pump 14. The pump 14 maythen be pulled away from the motor 12 until the input shaft 22 of thepump 14 is disengaged from the output shaft 20 of the motor 12. When abracket 30 is provided, such as shown in FIGS. 1-2, the pump 14 may bepulled sufficiently far away from the motor 12 so that the bracket 30slides off the end of the studs 34 a-34 b and no longer provides anyanti-rotational coupling between the pump 14 and the motor 12. When asafety pin 40 is provided, the safety pin 40 may first be removed, whichmay allow the bracket 30 to be slid off the end of the studs 34 a-34 b.

It has been found that by providing a direct coupling between the inputshaft 22 of the pump 14 and the output shaft 20 of the motor 12, as wellas a rotational stop mechanism with one or more resilient membersinterposed between the rotational stop mechanism and the pump and/ormotor, the resulting pump assembly may produce relative low noise levelswhen operating.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an illustrative rotational stop mechanism thatmay be used to help prevent the pump from freely rotating with theoutput shaft of the motor during operation. FIG. 4 is a side view of theillustrative rotational stop mechanism of FIG. 3. The rotation stopmechanism shown in FIGS. 3-4 includes a bracket 30 that extends betweenthe pump 14 and the motor 12. The illustrative bracket 30 may be boltedor otherwise secured to the housing of the pump 14, such as by bolt 32(see FIG. 2). Bolt holes 50 a and 50 b may be provided in a first flange52 of the bracket 30 to accept two such bolts 32. A second flange 54 mayextend substantially parallel to the first flange 52, and may beconnected to the first flange 52 by an intermediate leg portion 63, asbest shown in FIG. 4. The second flange 52 may include a number of studreceiving holes 36 (four are shown), each for accepting a correspondingstud 34 a-34 b. The stud receiving holes 36 may be sized sufficientlylarge so that a grommet 38 or other resilient member may be placed inthe hole and between the studs 34 a-34 b and the bracket 30.

The bracket 30 may also include a shaft receiving hole 58 for allowingthe shaft of the pump 14 and/or the shaft of the motor 12 to passthrough the bracket 30. In some embodiments, the bracket 30 may alsoinclude one or more accessory mounting holes, such as accessory mountingholes 60 and 62. Accessory mounting holes 60 and 62 may be adapted toaccept and mount one or more accessories to the bracket 30, such as apressure gauge, a valve or any other suitable accessory, as desired.

FIG. 5 includes a side view and front view of an illustrative resilientmember that may be used to absorb or substantially absorb at least someof the relative movement between the pump and the motor. In theillustrative embodiment, the resilient member is shown as a rubbergrommet 38 a. However, it is contemplated that any suitable resilientmember may be used, and may be formed from any suitable material, asdesired.

The illustrative grommet 38 a includes a first side member 70 joined tosecond side member 72 by a reduced diameter central member 74. Wheninstalled, the reduced diameter central member 74 may be situated in oneof the holes 36 of the bracket 30 (see, for example, FIG. 2), with thefirst side member 70 overlapping one side of the bracket 30 and thesecond side member 72 overlapping the opposite side of the bracket 30.The first side member 70 and the second side member 72 may tend to holdthe grommet 38 a in place. The illustrative grommet 38 a includes acentral hole or bore 80 that is adapted to receive a corresponding oneof the studs 34 b. The grommet 38 a may absorb or substantially absorbat least some of the relative movement between the pump and the motor.It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, a grommet similar to thatshown in FIG. 5 may be installed in each of the holes 36 of the bracketof FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an assembly view of an illustrative piston pump 14 that issuitable for use with the present invention. The pump shown in FIG. 6 issimilar to a pump that is commercially available from Arimitsu of NorthAmerica, located in Ramsey, Minn. However, the input drive shaft 92shown in FIG. 6 has been modified to include a hollow shaft portion 93that is adapted to receive an output shaft of a motor, as furtherdescribed herein.

The illustrative piston pump includes a pump housing 90 that receivesthe input shaft 92. A first side bearing 94 and a second side bearing 96are provided to support the input shaft 92 in the pump housing 90, andallow the input shaft 92 can freely rotate in the pump housing 90. Aseal 97 and cover 98 provide protection and support to bearing 94.Likewise, a seal 99 and cover 100 provide protection and support tobearing 94.

The particular pump 14 shown in FIG. 6 includes three pistons, includinga piston 102. The pistons are driven in a reciprocating fashion as theinput shaft 92 is rotated, which produces a pumping action between theinput port 16 and the output port 18. The housing 90 may be at leastpartially filled with oil or other lubricant during operation to helplubricate the various components therein. In some cases, it is desirableto keep the pump housing 90 fairly level during operation so that theoil or other lubricant can properly lubricate all of the desiredcomponents in the pump.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an illustrativeconnection between the motor output shaft 20 and the pump input shaft 22of FIG. 1. As can be seen, and in the illustrative embodiment, the pumpinput shaft 22 includes a hollow shaft portion 93 that extends from theend of the input shaft 22 for a distance. The hollow shaft portion 93has an output shaft receiving lumen for receiving the output shaft 20 ofthe motor 12. The input shaft 22 of the pump 14 may have a key slot (notshown) that extends along at least part of the output shaft receivinglumen, and the output shaft 20 of the motor 12 may have a mating keymember (not shown). Alternatively, or in addition, the input shaft 22 ofthe pump 14 may have a key member (not shown) along at least part of theoutput shaft receiving lumen, and the output shaft 20 of the motor 12may have a mating key slot.

To help set or release the coupling between the input shaft 22 of thepump 14 and the output shaft 20 of the motor 12, and in someembodiments, a set screw 24 may extend through a side wall of the inputshaft 22 and into the output shaft receiving lumen. The set screw 24 mayengage the output shaft 20 of the motor 12, and when tightened, maysecure the connection so that pump 14 is prevented from moving away fromthe motor 12, and visa-versa, during operation. Such a configuration maybe called a “floating pump mount”, because the pump 14 is primarilycoupled to the motor 12 via the shaft connection. As a result of thisconnection, the output shaft 20 of the motor 12 may be naturally“aligned” with the input shaft 22 of the pump 14. There may be somerelative movement between the pump 14 and motor 12 housings caused byshaft irregularities, but this relatively movement does not produce thesame detrimental effects as a shaft misalignment.

To help reduce the downward torque on the drive shaft 20 of the motor 12caused by the weight of the pump 14 in such a “floating mountconfiguration”, it may be beneficial to reduce the distance “D” 108between the pump 14 and the motor 12. In some embodiments, the outputshaft 20 of the motor 12 may be supported by an output shaft bearing110, and the input shaft 22 of the pump 14 may be supported by an inputshaft bearing 96. In some embodiments, the direct connection between theoutput shaft 20 of the motor 12 and the input shaft 22 of the pump 14may allow the spacing between the output shaft bearing 110 of the motor12 and the input shaft bearing 96 of the pump 14 to be, for example,less than 2.0 inches, less than 1.0 inches, or less than 0.5 inches. Byreducing the downward torque, the wear and tear on the output shaftbearing 110 of the motor 12 may be reduced.

When a set screw 24 is provided, the set screw 24 may be positioned inthe space between the bearings 110 and 96, which in some cases, mayallow the set screw 24 to be accessed and manipulated by the user of thepump assembly. As noted above, the set screw 24 may be used to loosenand/or tighten the coupling between the input shaft 22 of the pump 14and the output shaft 20 of the motor 12.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of another illustrativeconnection between the motor output shaft and pump input shaft ofFIG. 1. This illustrative embodiment is similar that shown in FIG. 7,except that the hollow shaft portion 93 of the input shaft 22 of thepump 14 has a tapered diameter along its length. That is, the outputshaft receiving lumen of the input shaft 22 of the pump 14 may have aninner dimension that decreases away from the end of the input shaft 22.In some cases, this may make it easier to remove the output shaft 20 ofthe motor 12 from the output shaft receiving lumen after securingmechanism therebetween is loosened.

In the illustrative embodiment, the securing mechanism between theoutput shaft 20 of the motor 12 and the input shaft 22 of the pump 14includes a bolt 112. The bolt 112 extends down the center of the inputshaft 22 of the pump 14 and is threaded into the distal end of theoutput shaft 20 of the motor 12. This may help secure the input shaft 22of the pump 14 to the output shaft 22 of the motor 12. While a bolt 112is shown in FIG. 8, it is contemplated that the input shaft 22 of thepump 14 may be selectively secured to the output shaft 22 of the motor12 by any suitable securing mechanism, including the use of a set screw,as desired.

In some embodiments, and to further aid in the separation between theoutput shaft 20 of the motor 12 and the input shaft 22 of the pump 14,the output shaft 20 of the motor 12 may include a step 115 to a reduceddiameter, which is spaced slightly from the end of the input shaft 22 ofthe pump 14 when the input shaft 22 of the pump 14 is fully engaged withthe output shaft 22 of the motor 12. The space may be, for example, inthe 1/16 to ¼ inch range, but other spacing may also be used. Once thebolt 115 is removed, a screw driver or the like may be inserted into thespace between the step 115 and the end of the input shaft 22 of the pump14, and pivoted or struck with a hammer to help release the output shaft20 of the motor 12 from the output shaft receiving lumen of the inputshaft 22 of the pump. It is contemplated that the configuration of theinput shaft of the pump and the output shaft of the motor as describedabove may be reversed. That is, and in some embodiments, the motor mayinclude a tapered hollow shaft end, and the pump may include a taperedinput shaft end along with a step that is spaced slightly from the endof the motor shaft when the pump shaft is fully engaged with the motorshaft, if desired.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a pump assembly 140 in accordancewith another illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Thisillustrative embodiment is similar to that described above, except thatthe bracket 30 is replaced with a different bracket 150 configuration. Afirst flange 160 of bracket 150 is shown bolted to motor housing 12 bybolt 162. In some embodiments, the first flange 162 may be bolted orotherwise attached to the mounting feet of the motor 12, or any othersuitable location. It is contemplated that rather than rigidly attachingthe first flange 162 to the motor housing 12, a resilient member may beinterposed between the first flange and the motor housing, if desired.

To help prevent the pump 14 from freely rotating with the output shaft20 of the motor 12 during operation, a second flange 156 of bracket 150may be coupled to the pump 14. In the illustrative embodiment, a post orstud 152 may extend from the pump housing 14. A hole may be provided inthe second flange 156 that receives the post or stud 152. A resilientmember, such as a grommet 158, may be positioned in the hole to absorbor substantially absorb at least some of the relative movement betweenthe pump 14 and the motor 12.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a pump assembly 178 in accordancewith yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Inthis illustrative embodiment, a pump 180 includes a pump housing thathas a bracket like portion 182. The bracket like portion 182 may bemolded with the reminder of the pump housing, or may be separatelyformed and attached to the pump housing. In the illustrative embodiment,the bracket like portion 182 includes one or more holes. The one or moreholes may be adapted to receive one or more studs from the motor housing12, as well as a grommet or the like similar to that discussed above.For example, and as shown in FIG. 10, a threaded rubber grommet 192 maybe used. The threaded rubber grommet 192 may include, for example, twometal threaded mounting holes, one on each side. A rubber plug, bobbinor other resilient member may be interposed therebetween. One of thethreaded mounting holes may be threaded or otherwise attached to the endof a stud, such as stud 188, that extends from the motor 12. The otherthreaded mounting hole may be threaded or otherwise attached to a bolt194 or the like that extends through one of the holes in bracket likeportion 182. A nut 193 may then be tightened onto the bolt 194 to securethe connection. The threaded rubber grommet 192 may provide a resilientconnection between each of the studs 188 and the pump housing.

FIG. 11 is a schematic partial-cut away side view of a pump assembly 200in accordance with yet another illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention. The pump 180 is similar to that shown and described abovewith respect to FIG. 10, and includes a pump housing with a bracket likeportion 182. The bracket like portion 182 includes one or more holes. Inthis illustrative embodiment, one or more resilient members, such asresilient members 204 a and 204 b, are secured to the bracket likeportion 182 and extend away from the pump housing and toward the motor202. The motor housing of the motor 202 has a front face 206 withdepressions or recesses 208 a and 208 b that may match the shape and areadapted to receive the resilient members 204 a and 204 b. A space isprovided between the motor housing and the bracket like portion 182 sothat there is no direct contact therebetween (other than through theresilient members 204 a and 204 b). The resilient members 204 a and 204b may provide a resilient connection between the motor 202 and the pump180.

FIG. 12 is an assembly view of an illustrative piston pump 228 thatincludes an input shaft 230 that has a hollow shaft end 231 and a solidshaft end 232, each extending out of a respective end of the pumphousing 234. In some cases, the input shaft 230 may have a hollow shaftend and both ends, if desired. In the illustrative embodiment of FIG.12, the hollow shaft end 231 is adapted to receive an output shaft of amotor, as further described herein, and the solid shaft end 232 is notadapted to receive an output shaft of a motor, but rather is adapted tobe selectively connected to a pulley, gear or other accessory. A cover236 may be provided to cover either the solid shaft end 232 or thehollow shaft end 231, when either is not currently in use.

Such a configuration may allow the pump to be more easily adapted todifferent pump assembly configurations. For example, when a motor thatincludes a solid shaft is used to directly drive the pump 228, theoutput shaft of the motor may be received by a shaft receiving lumen 233of the hollow shaft end 231, as described above. In those applicationswhere the pump is to be driven by a pulley, gear or other accessory, apulley, gear or other accessory may be mounted to the solid shaft end232. The solid shaft end 232 may have one or more threaded holes or thelike to aid in securing a pulley, gear or other accessory, but in theillustrative embodiment, it is not a “hollow” shaft in the sense that itis adapted to receive an output shaft of a motor. The cover 236 may beprovided over whichever shaft end is currently not in use.

In some cases, a shaft cover such as shaft cover 237, may be providedover the shaft end that is currently in use. The shaft cover 237 mayinclude a hole 239 through the housing to allow the shaft end 231 toextend therethrough. The shaft cover 237 may provide additional safetyby helping to prevent a user from coming into contact with at least partof the spinning shaft end 231.

In some cases, the shaft 230 may be removed from the pump housing 234and reversed in position, so that the hollow shaft end 231 extends outof the pump housing 234 in a leftward direction in FIG. 12, and thesolid shaft end 232 extends out in a rightward direction. This mayfurther increase the flexibility in mounting the pump 228 in differentpump assembly configurations.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention maybe manifested in a variety of forms other than the specific embodimentsdescribed and contemplated herein. Accordingly, departures in form anddetail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of thepresent invention as described in the appended claims.

1. A pump assembly, comprising: a motor having a rotating output shaft,and an output shaft bearing; a pump having a rotating input shaft, andan input shaft bearing; the input shaft of the pump being directlycoupled to the output shaft of the motor so that the input shaft of thepump and the output shaft of the motor are fixed relatively to oneanother and prevent the pump and the motor from moving away from eachother during operation; the spacing between the output shaft bearing andthe input shaft bearing being less than 2.0 inch.
 2. The pump assemblyof claim 1 wherein the spacing between the output shaft bearing and theinput shaft bearing is less than 1.0 inch.
 3. The pump assembly of claim1 wherein the spacing between the output shaft bearing and the inputshaft bearing is less than 0.5 inch.
 4. The pump assembly of claim 2wherein the input shaft of the pump includes a hollow shaft portionhaving an output shaft receiving lumen that extends from a first end ofthe input shaft and along at least part of the length of the inputshaft, the input shaft receiving lumen adapted for receiving at leastpart of the output shaft of the motor.
 5. The pump assembly of claim 2wherein the input shaft has a key slot along at least part of the outputshaft receiving lumen length, and the output shaft has a mating keymember.
 6. The pump assembly of claim 2 wherein the input shaft has akey member along at least part of the output shaft receiving lumenlength, and the output shaft has a mating key slot.
 7. The pump assemblyof claim 2 further having a set screw extending through a side wall ofthe input shaft and into the output shaft receiving lumen.
 8. The pumpassembly of claim 2, wherein the output shaft receiving lumen has aninner dimension that decreases away from the first end of the inputshaft.
 9. The pump assembly of claim 2 wherein the input shaft has asecond end that extends out a side of the pump, the second end having asolid shaft without an output shaft receiving lumen.
 10. A method forremoving a pump from a pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly includesa motor that drives a pump, and the motor has a rotating output shaftthat is directly coupled to a rotating input shaft of the pump, andwherein the pump is prevented from rotating freely with respect to themotor by a bracket, wherein the bracket provides a coupling between thepump and the motor with at least one resilient member situated betweenthe bracket and the motor and/or the bracket and the pump when theoutput shaft of the motor is engaged with the input shaft of the pump,and the bracket does not provide a coupling between the bracket and themotor and/or the bracket and the pump when the output shaft of the motoris moved away and disengaged from the input shaft of the pump, themethod comprising: loosening the coupling between the output shaft ofthe motor and the input shaft of the pump; and pulling the pump awayfrom the motor until the input shaft of the pump is disengaged from theoutput shaft of the motor and until the bracket no longer provides acoupling between the pump and the motor.
 11. The method of claim 10further comprising the step of: removing a pin that allows the pump tobe pulled away sufficiently far so that the bracket no longer provides acoupling between the pump and the motor.
 12. The method of claim 10wherein the loosing step includes loosing a set screw.
 13. A method forremoving a pump from a pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly includesa motor having a rotating output shaft, a pump having an input shaftthat is directly coupled to the output shaft of the motor, wherein thecoupling between the input shaft of the pump and the output shaft of themotor being the primary mechanism for preventing the pump and the motorfrom moving away from each other during operation, one or more resilientmembers extending from the pump toward the motor, and the motor havingan input face that faces but is spaced from the pump, wherein the inputface has one or more depressions or recesses for receiving the one ormore resilient members when the input shaft of the pump is coupled tothe output shaft of the motor, the method comprising the steps of:loosening the coupling between the output shaft of the motor and theinput shaft of the pump; and pulling the pump away from the motor untilthe input shaft of the pump is disengaged from the output shaft of themotor.
 14. A pump assembly, comprising: a pump having a rotating inputshaft, wherein the input shaft of the pump includes a hollow shaftportion having an output shaft receiving lumen that extends from a firstend of the input shaft and along at least part of the length of theinput shaft, the output shaft receiving lumen having an inner dimensionthat decreases away from the first end of the input shaft; a motorhaving a rotating output shaft with a shaft end, the shaft end having atapered profile to match or substantially match the inner dimension ofthe output shaft receiving lumen; the output shaft of the motor furtherhaving a step to a reduced diameter, the step being spaced from thefirst end of the input shaft by a distance when the output shaft of themotor is fully engaged with the output shaft receiving lumen.
 15. Thepump assembly of claim 14 wherein the step is spaced from the first endof the input shaft by a distance of less than ¼ inch.
 16. The pumpassembly of claim 15 wherein the step is spaced from the first end ofthe input shaft by a distance greater than 1/16 inch but less than ¼inch.
 17. A method for removing a pump from motor, wherein the pumpincludes a rotating input shaft with a hollow shaft portion having anoutput shaft receiving lumen that extends from a first end of the inputshaft of the pump and along at least part of the length of the inputshaft, wherein the output shaft receiving lumen has an inner dimensionthat decreases away from the first end of the input shaft, and the motorincludes a rotating output shaft with a shaft end, wherein the shaft endhas a tapered profile to match or substantially match the innerdimension of the output shaft receiving lumen, and wherein the outputshaft of the motor further has a step to a reduced diameter, wherein thestep is spaced from the first end of the input shaft of the pump by adistance when the output shaft of the motor is fully engaged with theoutput shaft receiving lumen, the method comprising: inserting a wedgein the space between the step and the first end of the input shaft ofthe pump; and pivoting or striking the wedge to release the output shaftof the motor from the output shaft receiving lumen.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the wedge is a screw driver or the like.
 19. A pumpassembly comprising: a pump having a housing; a shaft for driving thepump, the shaft having a first end that extends out of a first side ofthe pump housing and a second end that extends out of a second oppositeside of the pump housing, the first end of the shaft having a hollowedout shaft adapted to receive a drive shaft of a motor.
 20. The pumpassembly of claim 19 wherein the second end of the shaft does notinclude a hollowed out shaft adapted to receive a drive shaft of amotor.
 21. The pump assembly of claim 19 wherein the second end of theshaft also includes a hollowed out shaft adapted to receive a driveshaft of a motor.
 22. The pump assembly of claim 19 wherein the pumphousing is adapted to receive a removable cover that covers at leastpart of the first end of the shaft.
 23. The pump assembly of claim 19wherein the pump housing is adapted to receive a removable cover thatcovers at least part of the second end of the shaft.
 24. The pumpassembly of claim 19 wherein the pump housing is adapted to receive aremovable cover that entirely covers one end of the shaft.
 25. The pumpassembly of claim 19 wherein the second end of the shaft is adapted toreceive a pulley.